Living in Tahoe used to be a dream for locals, now it’s turning into a nightmare of skyrocketing prices and vanishing community. But Truckee isn’t taking this lying down.

The Housing Crisis No One’s Talking About

Imagine working in a town where you can’t actually afford to live. That’s the brutal reality for many Truckee workers, who are watching their hometown transform into a playground for part-time vacation homeowners. The local housing stock has been decimated, with more homes sitting empty than ever before.

A Lifeline for Local Workers

Enter game-changing initiatives like Hopkins Village and Placemate’s Lease to Locals program. These aren’t just housing solutions, they’re community survival tactics. Richard Baker, a local resident, is living proof. Through a specialized program reserving homes for local workers, he and his wife went from renters to homeowners in their own community.

Community Over Convenience

“When a community doesn’t have local residents living in it full time, the fabric of the community is missing,” says Heidi Hill Drum from the Tahoe Prosperity Center. Her mission? Rebuild that fabric, one affordable housing unit at a time. The Lease to Locals program offers financial incentives to property owners who rent to local workers, creating a win-win that keeps Truckee’s soul intact.

This isn’t just about housing, it’s about preserving the heart of a mountain town that refuses to become another soulless resort destination.